The St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary’s Mission Choir will join Holy Ghost Orthodox Church in Ambridge, Pa to celebrate Vespers and the Divine Liturgy. Following Liturgy on Sunday, refreshments will be served and the members of Mission Choir will introduce themselves and have the opportunity to meet with parishioners. Additional details will follow. For more information: http://www.stots.edu/news_141110_1.html

Theme: “The City a Desert: Living the Life of the Desert in the Midst of the World” This fourth suite of regional February symposia will address the way that “the city may become a desert” — that is, a fruitful place for life-changing, deep spirtiuality and the Life in Christ. As always, our symposia bring together leading Orthodox lecturers (see this year’s speakers for Riverside and for San Francisco), celebration of the Divine Services, panel discussions, opportunities for fellowship and many other dimensions that make these weekends important and prayerful events. Open to all: Participation in this symposium is open to everyone, of every background. For more information: http://www.sforthodoxinstitute.org/conferences/114-riverside-2015/358-riverside-symposium

Dr. Christopher Veniamin, Professor of Patristics at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, will be giving a Lecture for Metropolitan Nikitas (Lulias) of Dardanellia to the students of Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute (PAOI). The PAOI is a member school of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkley, CA. For more information: http://www.orthodoxinstitute.org/ FForor more information:

Theme: “Truth, Goodness, Beauty will save us” Speakers: Fr. Alexis Kouri & Others The Climacus Conference 2015 will seek to def­end bea­uty. Thus, we will first att­empt to def­ine bea­uty, parti­cularly on philo­sophical grounds. After all, we dis­cern bea­uty in phys­ical obj­ects and abstr­act ideas, in nat­ure and art, in ani­mals and things, and in people, quali­ties, and act­ions. What is this prop­erty of bea­uty pres­ent in all of these things? What is the status of bea­uty as an ult­imate value? Next we will con­sider the aesth­etics of some par­ticular beau­tiful things—such as church buil­dings, poems, icons, paint­ings, and music. Thirdly, we will con­sider some of the intel­lectual disci­plines—phi­lo­sophy, theo­logy, litera­ture, et al.—and their inter­action with aesth­etics. Finally, we will con­sider the pra­ctice of aesth­etics—the redem­ptive and salvific role of bea­uty in our lives. For more information: http://www.climacusconference.org/

Pack your snow boots, winter parka, hat, scarf and Sunday best as we prepare for Winter Camp. If you are in the range of grades 7-12, join us for Winter Camp where we will hear amazing talks from Deacon Nicholas Belcher (Dean of Students at Holy Cross Seminary and Hellenic College); a cycle of liturgical services; fun and fellowship. For more information or to register visit our Winter Camp page, forms page, and Winter Camp Staff page. Also: http://www.avcamp.org/

Theme: “How Do I Know the Voice of God?” All youth 7th grade – 12th grade are invited! Registration for the upcoming Orthodox Christian Winter Youth Retreat is now open. We are excited about using a new camp facility for this retreat – Camp Berachah! There are some great features of this camp, such as ropes challenge course, indoor swimming pool, and a cozy meeting room with a stone fireplace great for listening to our speaker who can relate well to the youth. For more information: http://stpaul-orthodox.org/registration.pdf

Theme: “The City a Desert: Living the Life of the Desert in the Midst of the World” The Sts. Cyril & Athanasius Institute is pleased to announce its fourth set of regional symposia, on the theme of The City a Desert: Living the Life of the Desert in the Midst of the World, to take place both in Southern California (Riverside, near LA) from 7th-8th February, and in Northern California (San Francisco) from 14th-15th February 2015. This fourth suite of regional February symposia will address the way that “the city may become a desert” — that is, a fruitful place for life-changing, deep spirtiuality and the Life in Christ. As always, our symposia bring together leading Orthodox lecturers (see this year’s speakers for Riverside and for San Francisco), celebration of the Divine Services, panel discussions, opportunities for fellowship and many other dimensions that make these weekends important and prayerful events. For more information:[...]

The St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary’s Mission Choir will join St. Michaels Orthodox Church Choir in Jermyn, Pa to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Following the Divine Liturgy, refreshments will be served and the members of Mission Choir will introduce themselves and have the opportunity to meet with parishioners. For more information: http://www.stots.edu/news_141110_2.html

Please join Lifeline Humanitarian Organization in Miami, FL for a benefit dinner and silent auction in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine, where proceeds will go to help children with special needs and relief for flood victims in Serbia. Free parking on site. Silent auction. Please RSVP. For more information: www.lifelineny.org

Speakers: Bishop Atanasije (Jevtic) of Herzegovina & Others Core Courses: Gospel, Revelation & the Living Tradition • Freedom, Spiritual Warfare & Cross • Love, Church & Prayer • Christ – The Alpha and Omega • Emmanuel & Theosis • Conversing with a Bishop • New Pascha – Divine Liturgy in the Land of the Living • Holy Fathers, the Bible and Us • The Return to Wonder: on Holiness and Responsibility • Eschatology and Theosis according to St. Maximus the Confessor • The Kosovo Covenant • Synodality and Canonical Tradition • Democracy and Human Rights in the Light of the Church • On Orthodox Ecumenism • The Eschata in Our Daily Life. For more information: http://westsrbdio.org/en/ministries/christian-education/835-sts-sebastian-and-mardarije-orthodox-institute-2015-2016

Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) is hosting an Open Forum for interested clergy and laity in the Jacksonville/St Augustine, Florida area on the progress of the Assembly of Bishops as they finalize a blueprint for Orthodox Unity in the USA. A plan will be discussed by the Assembly in March, 2015 in a special meeting. The work toward unity is the responsibility of all – including clergy and laity. At least we can be informed.

Mondays During Great Lent — Young Adult Lenten Study Group, Rocky River. Starting on “Clean Monday” area college OCF chapters and young adults are invited to a study group at St. Demetrios Church, led by Fr. Jim Doukas, to discuss the Philokalia and The Ladder of Divine Ascent. The group will meet on Mondays starting Feb. 23 through March 30 in the St. Philothei chapel (enter through the southeast gym entrance.) For more information: http://orthodoxcleveland.us/

Sacred Architecture of East and West: Lessons from History and Contemporary Trends This year’s symposium is the third and final in our series exploring the relationship between tradition and contemporary practice in Catholic and Orthodox liturgy. It will take place on February 27 to March 1, 2015. Keynote speaker: the Very Rev. Mark Morozowich, provost, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC Other speakers include: Nicholas Denysenko (Loyola Marymount University), Sharon Gerstel (UCLA), Robin Jensen (Vanderbilt University), Jeanne Kilde (University of Minnesota), Tom Lucas (Seattle University), Christina Maranci (Tufts University), Vasileios Marinis (Yale University), Denis McNamara, Amy Papalexandrou (Stockton College), and Richard Vosko. For more information: http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/ecumenical/futureevents/

Want to get away from the grind of midterms, exams, and studying? Want to meet other Orthodox College Students? Want to refocus your spiritual life? Well you’re in luck! This year we will host our first ever CRAVE! College Retreat at Antiochian Village is a weekend retreat for all college and university students. Fr. Anthony Yazge, Marek Simon, and Chris Shadid will talk about “Standing at the Foot of the Cross”, a Lenten retreat focused on following Christ. So if you want a little break from your classes, come join us for a weekend full of fellowship, worship, and learning! Register Now! This event takes place on Feb. 27 to March 1, 2015. For more information: http://www.avcamp.org/

Work with youth leaders on outreach to university students and nurture college students and young adults in Tirana. The mission trip will take place from February 27 to March 8, 2015. For more information: http://www.ocmc.org/about/open_teams.aspx

The Ephraim Project’s monthly pan-Orthodox feeding of the homeless will take place on Friday, Feb. 27, at St. George Orthodox Church. The meal is being prepared at First Alliance, but we are needed to help serve the food. The meal is served at 5:30 p.m., but please plan to come earlier to help set up. Please see Anne van den Berg if you would like to help. Anyone is also welcome to serve other Friday’s at 5 pm. For more information: http://www.ststephenoca.com/weekly.pdf

Nicholas Gage, distinguished Greek journalist and author will be presenting “A Writer’s Odyssey.” Join us for the presentation, book signing, refreshments, and a wonderful evening in the Fellowship Hall. For more information: http://www.saintmarkboca.net/index.php

Sunday of Orthodoxy. All are invited. Homily by His Grace, Bishop PAUL, Bishop of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest (OCA). Fellowship and refreshments in the Church Hall will follow the Service. Sponsored by the Greater Cleveland Council of Orthodox Clergy. For more information: http://orthodoxcleveland.us/

The Sunday of Orthodoxy Deanery Vespers will be hosted by St. John the Baptist Russian Orthdox Church. His Grace, Bishop Michael has also invited His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Archdiocese to be the homilist. Invitation has also been extended to clergy and faithful of various jurisdictions. The responses will be sung by a Pan-Orthodox choir. We are looking forward to sharing this day, the first Sunday of the Great Lent, as brothers and sisters in Christ. Lenten refreshments will be served following the Vespers. For more information: http://nynjoca.org/ or http://stjohnspassaic.org/images/imguploader/files/2015_02_08.pdf

The V. Rev. John Kowalczyk, Director of Field Education, St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary has been invited by the Pan-Orthodox Clergy Association of the Greater Twin Cities to provide the homily for the Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers service at in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For more information: http://www.stots.edu/news_150210_9.html

Please join us for the Sunday of Orthodoxy Pan-Orthodox Vespers service organized by the South Florida Clergy Brotherhood and Pan-Orthodox Laity Committee. Finger foods, refreshments, and fellowship will follow in the church hall. For more informaiton: http://www.saintmarkboca.net/index.php

The Council of Orthodox Christian Churches of Metropolitan Detroit (COCC) will hold the first in its series of Vespers services on the five Sundays of Orthodox Great Lent. The service will be conducted by members of the Clergy Brotherhood of St. John Chrysostom of Metropolitan Detroit. The Orthodox Choir of Metropolitan Detroit will sing the responses during the service. The homilist will be the Very Rev. Dr. Michael Oleska, retired pastor of St. Alexis Mission, Anchorage, Alaska, professor and author. Members of the public are invited to attend the services. For more information: http://www.coccdetroit.com.